smith



ZSheets-Sheet 1. W. SMITH & B. F; JOHNSONQ GOMBINED REVERSIBLE BLAGKBOARD AND DESK.

(No Model.)

' Patented May 12, 1885.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. W. SMITH &.B. I. JOHNSON. I

COMBINED REVERSIBLE BLAOKBOAED DES K.

Patented May 12, 1385 -W/T/VESSE8 K may I I I i UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MADISOA )V. SMITH AND BENJAMIN F. JOHNSON, OF )VAVERLY, NEW YORK.

COMBINED REVERSIBLE BLACK BOARD AND DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.31'7,588, dated May 12, 1885. Application filed January 20, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom. itmay concern.-

Be it known that we, MADIsON. W. SMITH and BENJAMINF. J OHNSON, citizensof the United States, residing. at lVaverly, in the county ofTiog-a and State of .New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Portable Copy Board and Desk; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable oth: ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention consists of improvements in combined portable and reversible copying or drawing blackboard and desk, whereby the board, when used for drawing or copying, may be held perpendicularly or at an angle with the matter to be copied held at the topof the board, and when reversed to form a writingdesk is held in position by the same brace which supports the drawing-board at an angle; also,in providing it with an upper rack to contain drawings and other articles, and a shelf beneath the desk for holding books, &c. Means for expanding and contracting the legs of the device are also provided.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view in elevation showing the copying-board held in a perpendicular position; Fig. 2, a perspective showing the board held at an angle; Fig. 3, a side view showing the device in position when used as a desk; Fig. 4, a side view showing the device folded up; Fig. 5, a detail showing a spring holding device for holding the board back when at an angle, and Figs. 6 and 7. detached views of attachments for holding copying matter.

. The frame-workis composed of the legs A A A A and the cross-braces O, O, and C". The legs A are hinged to the upper portion of legs A at the point'l, and also connected centrally thereto by the extension-braces b.

O is a cross-brace connecting the legs A, and O alower brace connecting the hinged legs A.

O is an upper brace for supporting the board, as hereinafter described.

D is a rack formed at the top of legs A, consisting of back strip, (2, two front strips, cl cl, and bottom strip, (the latter not shown.)

The back strip, d, answers as a brace to connect and always hold the legs A in a steady relative position.

G is a copying-board, with one face blackk shown in Fig. 1, when desired, by a springcatch, I, attached to brace 0. As shown, this catch consists of a spring-bar and pin, which passes up through the brace 0 into a hole in the lower edge of the board.

The form of the catches and hinges herein described of course may be varied.

When the board G is reversed or turned to form a writing surface and table, as shown in Fig. 3, the back end comes up under and against the cross-brace 0", which holds the board from tipping down farther and maintains it in a slightly-sloping position. The side and bottom strips of the board G may be allowed to extend a little way beyond the back surface of the board, so that when it is used as a table they will form a projecting edge or rim, 9.

The board is providedjlon'liitsjnpper edge with a metal strip or bracket, 0, designed to receive an attachment, L, (shown in Fig. 6,) for the purpose of holding drawings, copies, or other matter to be copied when the board is held at an angle, as shown in Fig. 2.

M (shown in Fig. 7) is an attachment formed of wire to be slipped onto the front side of the strip d at the top of the frame as a holder for copying matter when the board is held in a perpendicular position, as shown in Fig. 1.

O is a shelf attached to the lower cross-brace, O, to be used for holding books or other articles.

R is a hook which, with staples, is uscd to lock the device when folded.

Our invention will be found particularly usefnl in schools where drawing is taught, as it can be used both as a desk and drawing-board. It is adapted to be made of any size, to be held firmly and solidly in any of the positions placed, is free from any complicated parts, and can be quickly and easily folded or set up.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a portable copying and drawing board and desk, a suitable frame, in combination with a reversible board pivoted to swing within said frame,and the cross-brace 0 supporting the said board when used either as a copying-board or desk or table, substantially as described.

2. The frame adapted to receive an attachment as a holder for copying matter when the board is placed in an upright position, in com bination with the board provided with a metal strip or bracket, such as e, to receive an attachment for holding copying matter when the board is placed at an angle, substantially as described.

In combination with the pivoted board and the legs A, which carry the board, arack at the upper ends of said legs having a back strip, 66, forming a brace to connect and hold the said legs in relative position, substantially as described.

4. A portable drawing-board and writing desk comprising, in'con'ibination, the legs A and thelegs A, the latter hinged to the former, the extension and cross braces, the upper rack, the pivoted board swinging within the frame, and catches to hold the said board at an angle or in an upright position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

MADISON \V. SMITH.

3ENJAMIN F. JOHNSON.

XVitnesses:

V. L. WArRoUs, F. A. SAWYER. 

